Blog 56 (Contemporary History #16) – Nora

 Blog 56 (Contemporary History #16) – Nora

I couldn’t decide if this was a “Contemporary” history or a regular entry so I labeled it BOTH! It is about Nora Drum^{(Nathan S, Philip, George, Jacob, Philip)}(1876-1954), but I called it “Contemporary” because it is a follow-up to the previous post about my visit with my new friend, and recently met “cousin”, Barbara Montague, Nora’s brother Philip Leo’s granddaughter.

In the previous “Contemporary History #15” post that I entitled “Connecting”, Phyllis and I visited Barbara, toured her beautiful 200+ year-old home, and examined Nathan S. Drum’s store sign that once hung proudly in downtown Drums! Near the end of the visit, Barbara said she had some gifts for me and then presented me with a number of rolled up scrolls. Unrolled they turned out to be Nora’s graduation diplomas and her sister, Carrie’s, two Drums Postmaster appointment certificates (see previous post for details).

In a number of these Drums of Drums posts, I’ve lamented not having had the opportunity to meet and talk with any of these past Drums to learn what they remembered about “our” past. I’ve lamented not having diaries or letters from any of them to help us know what they were thinking and experiencing or even a newspaper article to know what others thought of them! And then I found this little booklet about the Drums Methodist Church, the church Nora was a member of, and best of all, Nora helped write it!! Just when I think, “Finally, something written by one of them; what will it tell me?”, I’m left with still more questions!

In 1953, Nora co-authored a small booklet with two fellow churchmates entitled Drums Methodist Church and Valley Notes. It is mimeographed and includes two actual photographs of the church glued into it on the center pages. It must have been a project to “publish”. I wonder how many they made. Of the various “chapters” in the booklet, one section is just about “the Drum Family” and one is about the village of Drums. On page 17 the booklet reports that:

One of Philip Drum’s sons, Nathan Drum, born December 29, 1837, married Elizabeth Hess. Their son, Philip Drum III, a lawyer, resides in Kingston. … A daughter of Philip Drum, Carrie M., was postmistress of the Drums Post Office for 28 years. She died January 1, 1941. Lottie, another daughter, was the assistant postmistress.

 You would think that Nora wrote this since it is about the Drum family -- HER family. If it was written by a co-author, surely Nora would have proofed it, right? So, how did two glaring errors get into that one sentence (A daughter of Philip Drum, Carrie M., was postmistress of the Drums Post Office for 28 years.)? Carrie, Nora’s older sister by two years, was not “a daughter of Philip Drum”. Depending on which Philip is being referred to, Carrie was either Philip’s granddaughter, like Nora was, or, again just like Nora, Philip’s sister! Most likely the word “grand” was missed by both the typist and, if there was one, the proof reader.

However, the next one is a little harder to explain.  A daughter of Philip Drum, Carrie M., was postmistress of the Drums Post Office for 28 years. If Carrie was postmaster until she died, and she died in 1941 (albeit January 1); 1941 minus 28 = 1913, the year the SECOND certificate was issued.

However, Barbara gave me TWO Post Office appointment certificates, one dated 1913 and one issued eighteen years earlier, dated 1895, when Carrie was 21 years old. Perhaps she did not serve until she died, as I had been told (oral history). If she served 28 years, that would mean her service was from 1895 to 1923, 10 years after her second appointment certificate is dated.  In 1923, Carrie was 49.

So, we are left with more questions, what we call “History’s Mysteries”.

If she stepped down from Drums Postmaster in 1923, what did Carrie do for the last eighteen years of her life? Did Lottie leave her Assistant Postmaster” position then as well? Why were two certificates issued? Was reappointment something that happened every 18 years, that is, normal Post Office practice (which is unlikely); or is there more to the story (which is MORE likely)? If Carrie, or both, left in 1923, what was the reason they stepped down? Someone, I’m sure, knows these answers.

Between 1895 and 1913, there were ten Postmasters General.  

Carrie’s appointment is signed March 12, 1895. It says she was appointed March 1, 1895. Across the top, the certificate says, William S. Bissell, Postmaster General of the United States of America”. Bissell was appointed as Postmaster General by President Grover Cleveland on March 6, 1893. He was followed by William L. Wilson, also appointed by Cleveland, on March 1, 1895. Hmmm. Carrie was appointed by Bissell on the day his successor took office? That seems odd. Both served “at the pleasure” of President Grover Cleveland, which may play into this. Also, Carrie’s 1895 appointment was signed by what looks like “F. H. Jaies (or Jares or Jaus), Acting Postmaster General”, not Bissell or Wilson, which may also be a hint.

Carrie left the job in 1923, apparently, probably when Harry S. New, appointed by President Warren Harding on February 27, was the Postmaster General. Between Burleson and New, were two Postmasters General, Will Hays (1921) and Hubert Work (1922), also Harding appointments.

However, speaking of Nora, since she IS who this post is SUPPOSED to be about, that is Nora in the photo to the left. So, what was she doing, in addition to attending church at the Drums Methodist Church and helping to write pamphlets about it, while her sisters were serving the community as Post Master and Assistant Post Master for the Drums Post Office? The “Notes” (again page 17) tell us “Nora A. is an alumna of Bloomsburg State Teachers College, and was a former teacher in the Butler Township Schools.” So, what was she doing? She was putting the degree she received at BNS to good use teaching children in Drums.

I wonder if anyone ever pointed out the obvious giggle line, “Miss Drum of Drums”.

Philip Leo also graduated from Bloomsburg Normal School, a.k.a. Bloomsburg State Teachers College, a.k.a. Bloomsburg University, a.k.a. Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania - Bloomsburg. Can a school have an identity crisis? Anyway, he graduated in 1893. It appears Philip’s first job after graduation was as a teacher at Carlisle Indian School in 1894. In 1895 and 1986 he was back at BNS, this time as a teacher. Did he teach Nora?

In 1897 it appears he attended classes at Lafayette College. The record from which this information came, the Pennsylvania State Legislature’s website, says he was a “teacher, Upper Lehigh school district (2 years)”, but it does not give those years. It says he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law with a LLB (Bachelor of Law) in 1900. One might therefore assume those two “missing” years, 1898 and 1899, were the two years spent teaching at Upper Lehigh. But, that is, of course, also when one could assume he was attending classes at Penn. Not being sure, I am left being sure that someone will “sure fill me in” on these details surely soon enough.

As for BNS, at least one more Drum graduated from BNS. She was Susan R. Drum, 1905 – 1993). Her father was George Francis, also known as Dr. G. Frank Drum. G. Frank’s father was Conyngham’s George W., son of George II, son of George I, son of Jacob, sone of Philip. Susan was a member of the BNS Class of 1925. She married Dr. Wayne Turner (1906-1989) in 1928. He served in the US Army Air Corps as a Major during WWII. They are buried side-by-side in Berwick.

A quick note about George W.’s name. What does “W” stand for? Is it possible it was “George Washington Drum”? Could be and would be fun! Anyway, back to Nora.

Three years after her brother graduated from BNS in 1893, Nora earned a “Bachelor in the Elements” degree from Bloomsburg Normal School. And below is Nora’s 1896 BNS Bachelor in the Elements Diploma plus two additional “elements” certifications which she also earned: Manual Training (what I believe we would have called “Shop Class” when I was going to school in the 1970s) and Physical Culture. “PC” looks very much like what I always got the Band Director to give me a pass to get out of on most days in High School: Physical Education or “PE”, a.k.a. Gym Class. I am so certain Nora would have been SO disappointed in me. I mean, just look at her. If I had seen her coming at me in the school hallway, I’d have been intimidated for sure. I bet none of her students gave her any guff!! I don’t even think she has shoes on in the photo above, just stocking feet! Tough!

So, here is Nora’s “Normal Teacher’s Certificate for the Elementary Course Bachelor in the Elements” degree - plus the two added certifications. By the way, the reason why there is a ruler sitting on top of the diploma is to hold the gold seal down. It has come loose and folds over unless it is held in place. Besides, if it keeps getting folded back and forth, it will, eventually break off and we do NOT want that to happen.

So, what ARE the elements she was certified to teach in addition to Shop and Phys Ed., uh, I mean Manual Training and Physical Culture? I’m glad you asked!

By the way, the two added certification certificates are around a “normal” size. Physical Culture is only 9 ¼” x 7 3/8”. The Manual Training one is slightly bigger: 19” x 15”. The Teacher Diploma itself, however, is HUGE: 22” x 16 ¾” Most diplomas are signed by someone, sometimes two or even three people sign them, usually. At the bottom of this diploma, one finds 21 signatures. TWENTY-ONE. I counted them.

But wait, there’s more. Nora wasn’t yet done with her “schooling”. I am not familiar with the course of study she was required to take to be a teacher, but one would think it would be a “one-and-done” thing. Right? Nope. It took two MORE years for Nora to get what she needed, apparently. In 1898, Nora earned a “Master in the Elements” degree. Or maybe it is a “Master in Elementary Didactics”. The diploma uses both phrases.  Maybe it’s a “Master in the Elements and Master in Elementary Didactics” degree. A Master Master!

BTW, “didactics” means “systematic instruction; pedagogy”, you know, teaching. I had to look it up.

Anyway, here it is. I zoomed in on the top part because it is both attractive and interesting. But I’ll get to why it is interesting in a moment. I also included a photo of the Drums school, also interesting. It was taken about 1910. Given the relevant facts, one should/could conclude that this is the school Nora taught in, and if so, she c/would have been a teacher there when the photo was taken. She is not in the photo, however. Those are all boys. We will get back to this being “her” school in a moment as well. For now, let’s just bask in the diploma’s glory!

By now, some of you are squinting your eyes trying to read the darn thing so let me help. Here is what it says.

Know All MEN By These Presents, that

Nora A. Crum

Having been regularly graduated as Bachelor in the Elementary Course of this Institution and having sedulously pursued the study of the liberal arts and sciences and comported herself in all respects worthily, is hereby declared

Master in The Elements

And having practiced the profession of teaching for two full annual terms subsequent to graduation, and been of good moral character, and having exhibited the requisite proof thereof, she is further hereby declared

Master in Elementary Didactics;

with all the rights and privileges of that Degree and fully authorized to practice the profession of Teaching...this 29^th day of June, 1898.

 BTW, “sedulously” means “accomplished with perseverance”. I had to look that up, too.

The items underlined are elements handwritten onto the printed document.

I’ve tried and tried to find a way to explain why the name written on the diploma looks all the world like “Crum” and not “Drum” but I cannot figure it out. I am left to believe that although incorrect, Nora accepted it as written. I’d have asked for a re-do. Perhaps she did, but given the number of signatures at the bottom (22!), maybe it could not be redone, which would have been crummy.

Here we have the last name on the left as it appears at the top of the diploma.

Top right is a “C” from the word “Commonwealth” found further down on the document.

To the lower right is the word “Degree” also from the document.

Now you tell me. Is it a “C” or a “D”? 

In the post “Drums and the Three R’s, Part 1”, I describe the school situation that Drums valley enjoyed, including a map that is very helpful. Briefly, between 1830 and 1870, Butler Township built eight one-room school buildings situated throughout the township. In 1870, the one called “Drums school” was moved from its first location, where the Methodist church now (2024) stands in Drums, to a location near where the present (2024) Drums Elementary/Middle school is located. Once there, two wings were added on either side, as can be seen in the photo below. All the children in Drums from that point on were sent to the “new” school. Again, the “Drums and the Three Rs, Pt 1” post gives much more info about all this, including various connections to the Drum family throughout.

This is all important because what we don’t know at present is when Nora taught in the township school district. We can assume she spent her career as a teacher and began teaching shortly after graduating with her “Master in Elementary Didactics”, or whatever it was called, and if so, we are probably looking at 1899 or 1900 for the year she started (unless her two years while working on her Masters were spent in Drums as well). So, if you were thinking she might have begun her career in one of those one-room schoolhouses that closed in 1870, don’t say that to her, because she might be offended and, like I said above, she does not look like a person one wants to offend!

In that earlier school-related post, I relate a discussion I had with my now deceased friend, Gil Bittenbender, about getting a Drums education. He attended school in the Drums school from 1932 to 1944. He mentioned four teachers. The following is an excerpt from that post.   

In the 1930’s, Grades 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd, taught by Mrs. Kemp, were held in the front-right classroom, which had its own outside door. Grades 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th were taught in the front-left, which also had its own outside door, as can be seen in the photo. He was uncertain of that teacher’s name but thought it was either Gertrude Wilson or Katherine Wenner. In the back-left was the 7^th grade taught by Mr. Opiary. The back-right classroom, behind Mrs. Kemp’s room, was the 8^th Grade taught by Burt Wenner.

The point here, if it has escaped any of us, is that none of the teachers Gil named were Nora. (Crowd says, “Ohhhhhhhh!”). I’m pretty sure that if one of them had been Nora, or even if she had been associated with the school in some way, Gil would have mentioned it to ME. He would have had great fun with such a fact. I miss Gil, if it isn’t apparent. Anyway, we don’t know how long she taught, but we might be close if we assume she taught from 1900 (age 25) to 1930 (age 55). That sounds like a good career. Thirty years is a long time to be teaching push-ups.

One last note. Philip Leo married Vida Bowman and they had one daughter, Elizabeth. Carrie, Nora, and Lottie never married.

Carrie got a Drums of Drums post. Nora got a Drums of Drums post. But poor Lottie. No post (yet/planned) for her. Who knows, maybe she would have liked it that way.

 

 

 

Contemporary History #15 – Connecting

When one writes a blog about one’s family history, one expects that people will connect with you for any number of reasons: You got something wrong. You told me something I didn’t know! Here is my story, are we related? A few spam-folks trying to sell sex-related products or just out-right want to steal my money. I try not to respond to those last two kinds, but I do try to respond to the others. One fellow was certain we were related but, alas, we were not. His story and mine ran parallel in so many ways, except for the way our stories began. Darn. One woman wanted me to know that my sleuthing, which I was SO proud of, was wrong. She had the facts. I had the fiction. Darn. Some just want to say thank you. I like those.

Back in November 2021 I got a letter. The woman who wrote it was hoping I could give her more information about her family. “But I don’t know anything about the Montague’s”, I said to myself. Her name was Barbara Montague. She continued, “I would like to learn more about the Drum Family.” I wanted to respond, “Me too!” Of course, I didn’t. I kept reading. Seems she learned about me when someone sent her a copy of a letter that I published in the local newspaper about George Drum and how Drums, PA got its name. To read more about George and his tavern, and how the village got its name, visit George Builds a Tavern, a Place Gets a Name: Drums. https://drumsofdrumspa.blogspot.com/2018/10/9-george-builds-tavern-place-gets-name.html

“My great, great grandfather was Philip Drum.” she wrote. Philip was George’s son. She continued, “My great grandfather was Nathan S. Drum who married Elizabeth Hess. He had a house in Drums that had a store on the first floor and the family lived on the other side of the first floor and upstairs. My grandfather was Philip Leo Drum and he had three sisters, Carrie, Nora, and Lottie.” She wrote.

This photo is of those three sisters, L-R: Nora, Lottie, and Carrie.

Then Barbara explained that Philip Leo’s daughter, Elizabeth, married John Bassett Moore. My correspondent, Barbara, was their daughter.  Montague is her married name.

The connection with me is Barbara’s great great grandfather Philip. For me, he is one more “great” back but he is the common ancestor.  My line goes Philip, John (the brother of Nathan S.), Nathan A, Elmer, Harry, me.

So, to answer her questions, I pointed her to this blog, gave her some information she probably already knew, and asked her a bunch of questions of my own.  She was very kind to respond, had little to offer about my questions, but gave me some insights into what her “connections” to the family were like. For example, about her grandfather, Philip Leo Drum, she wrote that he was “a gentle soul”.

I was very close to my grandfather as he was my male role model while my dad was in the South Pacific during WW2. He was a gentle soul and had lots of patience with me as he taught me a lot about the outdoors and how to do things.  He also taught me how to drive in our big field and on the back roads of Orangeville. An interesting experience as he was deaf in both ears and couldn’t hear other cars coming. He also loved to write letters and poetry to his family members. 

Deaf! Who knew?

To see a photo of Philip L. Drum and learn a little more about him, go to the post “The Methodists” https://drumsofdrumspa.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-methodists.html

Philip Leo’s father was Nathan S. Drum. So, I asked the obvious, “What did the S stand for?” She did not know. “I’ve only seen his name written as Nathan S. or N.S. Drum.”  Darn. She did, however, have a sign. “We have the last sign (or maybe it’s the only sign) from his store.  We have had a replica made so we could hang it outside our house.”  The store’s sign! That was something I wanted to see!

The thing is, when N.S. was “a well-known merchant” in Drums, his cousins, brothers Josiah and Stephen, also had a store in Drums, on the same road, only a few houses down, all within yelling distance. This is a close up of a map from 1873. We see “N. S. Drum” and five or six houses further we see “J & S Drum Store”. They are not in the same location on the map.

My ASSUMPTION has always been that J & S had a store and N. S. was a partner and/or contributed to the store. When Barbara said she had the store’s sign, I thought it was going to say “J & S Drum Store”.

However, that is not what Barbara was saying. She was clearly saying N. S. had a store “on the first floor and the family lived on the other side of the first floor and upstairs” of N. S. Drum’s house. In fact, as we talked, she mentioned that, as a child, she “played store” in the then empty store side of the house. That could only mean there were two stores. To make matters worse, between the J & S Drum Store and the N. S. Drum home, where Barbara says N. S. Drum had a store, was the Andrews Store and Post Office (three stores almost in a row on the same street?). Did N. S. and J & S work together or were they in competition with each other? Perhaps, J & S went out of business and N. S. opened a new store in his house.

I wish I had met these people. Well, I probably met Lottie when I was a baby. I was born in 1957 and Lottie died in 1959. If I had known, I would have asked. Of course, I bet I met Philip Leo, too. You know how families pass around babies. I could have asked him, too; he died in 1960.

One of Barbara’s letters to me included a fatal sentence, “I would enjoy meeting you sometime.” So, after a few more exchanges in which I wormed in implications that I’d love to visit, foolishly she said, in a December 2023 note, that we should come visit her in the summer. On July 9, 2024, I wrote, “I just realized. It is summer! Days are already getting shorter. Sheesh!” Then I reminded her of the visit suggestion. Of course, as I wrote the note, I was thinking perhaps August or September.  She responds, “I know it is short notice, but would you like to come over either Friday or Saturday?”

FRIDAY OR SATURDAY!!?? WHAT!?

My wife and I chose Saturday, July 13.

When I first saw her home, I almost fell over. We’ve toured Presidential homes that are not half as nice as Barbara’s home! It is beautiful. After we chatted a bit, she took us on a tour of her 200-year-old home. Stunning! After we chatted a bit more, she said she had gifts for me. Carrie’s appointment certificates as Drums Postmaster (two certificates). Nora’s Normal School diplomas (two diplomas). I felt like I was stealing.

I’ll share the Postmaster Certificates with you. The first Postmaster Appointment certificate is shown below. It is dated 1913. I enlarged the “appointment” part. I wonder if she had it hanging in the Post Office. I would have.

The next one is Carrie’s first Postmaster certificate, dated 1895, the year Elmer Drum was born. I like that one the best. It is fancier. It has an eagle.

And just to prove we did visit Barbara, here we are, Barbara and me, standing beneath the N. S. Drum Store sign. On the top left is a close-up of the “new” sign and to the left bottom is the original sign in all its glory. Note that it does not say “J & S Drum Store”. Whether J&S and NS were competitors or not, you can be sure that between those two “cousins” standing below the sign, there is no competition whatsoever.